is surface area squared?

if I got 201 meters for the surface area would it be:
201 meters or 201 meters ^2

Area is always expressed in square units.

201 square meters = 201 meters^2

Surface area is not squared. It is measured in square units.

In the case where you have a surface area of 201 square meters, it should be written as "201 square meters" or "201 m^2," where the exponent ^2 indicates the area is squared.